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Dating in Wellington is great – this city is full of neat cafes, delicious places to eat and fun things to do. In fact, the hardest thing is choosing between them! To help you, we’ve picked fun Wellington date ideas for all sorts of situations. Rain, shine or wind (because, let’s face it, there’ll be wind), we’ve got you covered!
Our top Wellington date ideas: find your new favourite!
Whether you’re into coffee, great food, quiz nights or adventures, we’ve picked a date to suit you. Read on to discover a Wellington date idea that will make your next date night great – then scroll to the bottom to see all our ideas on a handy, shareable map!
Please note, this list is up to date as of April 2017
1. Head to the Friday Night Market
Meeting up on a Friday or Saturday night? Like delicious food and entertainment? (Of course you do!). Then a date at the Wellington Night Market is a sure-fire winner. With street food from around the world, you’re sure to find a mouth-watering meal – dig in, then follow it up with a wander, soaking up the atmosphere of the market and the creativity of the Art Walk.
2. Get quizzical
A quiz night isn’t just great for groups of mates; it can also be a fun date idea. After all, who doesn’t like the chance to show off for the one they fancy? While the title of ‘best pub quiz in Wellington’ is hard to definitively assign, music-lovers will like the Southern Cross’ Slow Boat Music Quiz on Thursdays, and trivia-buffs will fall for the Sprig & Fern’s epic Tuesday quiz.
3. Meet for coffee (and more coffee)
Up to 88% of our Kiwi members think that a casual coffee is one of the best options for a first date.1 When you combine that with the fact that no list of Wellington date ideas is complete without a carefully selected list of cafes, we couldn’t stop at just one pick. We’ve listed our five favourite ‘date-worthy’ Wellington cafes below, all offering their own style.
4. Take a Matiu Somes Island daytrip
A 20 min trip on the East by West Ferry is all it takes to get you to Matiu Somes Island, the perfect place to enjoy an outdoor date, NZ wildlife, and Wellington history all in one place. Walk around the island to soak it all in, and be sure to keep an eye out for highlights like little blue penguins! Just remember: the island is pest-free so be careful with what you bring in.
5. Talk with the animals
Of course, animal lovers don’t have to cross the harbour to have wonderful encounters in Wellington. Date ideas like Zealandia are always a winner for nature fans and the Wellington Zoo is also fantastic. Be sure to check the daily animal talk and feeding schedule for your chance to meet iconic animals and birds like Tahi, the zoo’s resident one-legged kiwi.
6. Find a new corner of the Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens hold a rightly celebrated place in the pantheon of Wellington date ideas. Along with highlights like the Sculpture Walk, in summer there’s the allure of a Gardens Magic concert (followed by a walk through the fairy-lit garden paths), then tulips in the spring, riots of colour in autumn, and the tropical warmth of the Begonia House for winter dates.
7. Do your own version of Round the Bays
Whether you want an exhilarating, dramatic date set against pounding surf (followed by a great cafe) or a quick trip to the water during your lunch break/after work, there’s a Wellington beach to suit you. Really, all of the beaches and bays in this city have their own special charm and most are ideal for a romantic stroll, but we’ve still picked our five favourites below!
8. Discover a new favourite craft beer
Those with a thirst for hoppy IPAs or dark porters can have a great time exploring the Wellington Craft Beer Trail. From year-round taprooms like Garage Project and the Tuatara Temple of Taste, to craft bars like Rogue & Vagabond or LBQ, to festivals like Beervana, craft beer’s popularity has rocketed here in recent years – and that means one delicious date!
9. Find an unusual cinema
Those looking for Wellington date ideas in the winter can’t go wrong with a trip to the movies. Try somewhere like the Lighthouse Cinema in Petone – with sofas for you and your date to snuggle up on, it’s lovely for rainy-day romance. Dating in the summer? Grab a blanket and head to the Lagoon Lawn for a night at the Wellington Free Outdoor Cinema.
10. Explore the Wellington Writer’s Walk
‘’ I love this city, the hills, the harbour, the wind that blasts through it.’’ This excerpt from Patricia Grace’s Cousins is just one of the gorgeous quotes about Wellington that you can see when you follow the Writer’s Walk along the waterfront. Beautiful, quirky public art combined with waterfront views – it’s what life in Welly is all about, really. Enjoy!
Ready to try one of our Wellington date ideas? You can find the locations on this map. Still looking for that Wellington single to share the city with? Let us help. Start by registering today.
EliteSingles Editorial May 2016, updated April 2017
Did we get your favourite Wellington date ideas? Did we miss one out? Let us know below or contact us at [email protected]
Sources:
1 EliteSingles ‘Dating Dealbreakers’ survey 2016. Sample size: 500 New Zealand men and women.
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